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British Isles

August - September 2015
  • Chuck Cook
  • Glenda Cook
We will spend about one month exploring England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales. Perhaps we will discover our roots. Read more
  • Chuck Cook
  • Glenda Cook

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  • Wales Wales
  • Ireland Ireland
  • Northern Ireland Northern Ireland
  • Scotland Scotland
  • England England
  • United States United States
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  • British Isles
    Terrace at Our Hotel
    Trad on the Prom

    Arriving in Galway

    September 1, 2015 in Ireland ⋅ ⛅ 55 °F

    At 5:00 pm we arrived at the Galway Bay Hotel and were given a room overlooking the bay. Tonight we will see a program of Irish music, dancing and folklore here at the hotel. We are a bit tired from our journey so we plan to rest before supper. After supper we went to a folkloric show called Trad on the Prom (Tradition on Promenade) featuring Irish music and dancing.Read more

  • British Isles
    Walk Through Galway
    The Home of Mayor LynchSt. Nicholas Collegiate Church, Tomb of Jane Eyre

    Walking Tour of Galway

    September 2, 2015 in Ireland ⋅ ⛅ 50 °F

    We began with a walking tour of Galway. A Mayor named Lynch once hanged his own son because he was convicted of murder and no other citizens would carry out the execution. Home of Richard Martin, founder of SPCA. St. Nicholas church, contains the tomb of Jane Eyre. Catholic Church taken over by Cromwell. There is a pub called "The King's Head," emblazoned with images of King Charles I. It is called this because it was the home of the man who was the executioner for the King. Old tower house now used as a Costa Coffee house.Read more

  • British Isles
    Statue of John Wayne and Maureen O'Hara
    Downtown CongRuins of the Old Church in Cong

    Cong and The Quiet Man

    September 2, 2015 in Ireland ⋅ 🌧 55 °F

    Cong is the picturesque village where the film "The Quiet Man," starring John Wayne, was filmed in the 1950's. While the plot is rather thin, the local pub and some of the local buildings figure prominently in the film. There is a statue of John Wayne carrying Maureen O'Hara. Our guide dressed some of our group in costumes relating to characters in the film, and sought to act out the plot. Actually, the movie is the town's only claim to fame. Still, it is a beautiful little village.Read more

  • British Isles
    Photo by Lance Boepple
    Walking in GalwayNoisy PercussionistSt. Augustine's Church, GalwayCheckincg the Menu at McSwigginsDinner at McSwigginsCooks, Dicksons, and Boepples at Dinner

    Dinner at McSwiggins

    September 2, 2015 in Ireland ⋅ ⛅ 54 °F

    We returned from Cong to Galway and spent some time walking in the city. Glenda and I shared a hamburger at a pub called McSwiggen's and were grateful for a break from bland fish, bland chicken, bland pork and potatoes, potatoes, and more potatoes. Tuesday night's supper was chicken served on a mountain of mashed potatoes, and then they passed a bowl full of potatoes. Next, the waiter passed around a huge bowl of au gratin potatoes. Other than serving too many potatoes, I find that I really like the city of Galway.Read more

  • British Isles
    Glenda at the Cliffs of Mohr
    ThistleVisitors' Center, Cliffs of Mohr is embedded in a hillIrish Harpist at Cliffs of Mohr

    Cliffs of Mohr

    September 3, 2015 in Ireland ⋅ ⛅ 50 °F

    This morning I asked for two slices of fried potatoes and was given four. We are on our way to Killarney, via the Cliffs of Mohr. Part of our route coincides with the Atlantic Way, a seaside bicycle route that has proven quite popular. The cliffs are dramatic and beautiful as they frame the ocean. We have a substitute coach driver for a few days, Martin, who is relieving John, who is required by law to take four days off. At 9:25 am we pass the burras, eroded limestone.Read more

  • British Isles
    Killarney Lakes
    Soccer Player 1Soccer Player 2NewlywedsGenna Mae Pee-PieYoung DuffersDinner at Castleross HotelSt. Mary's Church, Killarney

    Arrival in Killarney

    September 3, 2015 in Ireland ⋅ ☁️ 55 °F

    At about 2:00 pm we took the ferry across to Kerry. The locals refer to Kerry as "the Kingdom." We see long, lovely green vistas filled with cattle, broken by low stone walls. At 4:00 pm we arrived in Killarney, going first to a high overlook to see the famous three lakes. Then Glenda and I walked on the trail leading through the national park to the center of town. We found the Irish football teams for the cathedral schools were just finishing practice. I found two girls and asked them to explain the rules for Irish football. They did so and then let me take a photo. I took photos of the cathedral, then we walked a little further downtown before turning back and retracing our steps to the hotel. A bride and groom had just gotten married and as they waited outside the reception hall, they allowed me to take their picture. We and the Dicksons had dinner with Skip and Tutti. I took a break from bland potatoes and had a delicious vegetarian Thai green curry over rice, extra spicy. I also ordered a nice Chardonnay to accompany the meal.Read more

  • British Isles
    Sheep Shearing at Kissane Sheep Farm
    Downtown KilmareDark Valley, Devastated by Potato FamineKissane Sheep Farm, Border Collie DemonstrationCyclists in Dunloe GapMuckross HouseIce Cream in Killarney

    Ring of Kerry

    September 4, 2015 in Ireland ⋅ ⛅ 57 °F

    The morning stop for an hour took place in Kenmare on market day. We spent some time at a little craft fair in the center of town. At 10:10 am Glenda took a shot at the Black Valley, the most remote of Ireland. They got electricity only in the 1970's. The name came because this area was affected severely by the potato famine. Many died or left and never returned. It is still almost completely depopulated. At 11:30 am we saw the so-called Ladies' View of the 3 lakes. We had lunch at Moriarty's Heather Restaurant at Dunloe Gap. At 2:00 pm I got a shot of prehistoric stones with Orhgam language, that of ancient Celts. So far it remains undeciphered. This afternoon we toured Muckross House, where Queen Victoria visited for two days in 1861. The family spent huge sums of money to accommodate the Queen, thinking that their investment would bring a tidy return. However, shortly after the visit Prince Albert died, the Queen went into a period of extended mourning, and she forgot completely about rewarding the owners of Muckross House. As a result of their extravagant expenditures, the family went bankrupt and had to sell the house in 1899. The bus brought us back to Kilarney where we had supper at Robertino's Italian Restaurant, then walked through the city on foot. We dropped into and ice cream shop for dessert. We found Peter Cox's photography shop. He had a lovely photo of the Cliffs of Moher taken with a Canon 5D Mark iii that he suspended from a drone at sunrise. He had to get special permission from the government for that shot. We rode the bus back to the Castlerosse Hotel, and I walked over the golf course trying to get to the lake by sunset. I encountered a dense thicket, however, and chose not to hack through the bush. We organized our gear and made ready to depart Kilarney in the morningRead more

  • British Isles
    Blarney Castle
    MacCroom Castle, Home of William PennGlenda at BlarneyWhite Star Terminal at Cobh (Queenstown)Church at CobhCobh Visitors' CenterGlenda at CobhWhite Star Terminal at CobhReplica of Titanic Day Room

    Cobh

    September 5, 2015 in Ireland ⋅ ⛅ 54 °F

    At 8:47 am shot of MacCroom Castle, birthplace of Sir William Penn, father of the founder of Pennsylvania. It is also the castle from which Michael Collins left on the day of his assassination by anti-treaty IRA forces. On the way I photographed a Celtic cross marking one of the famine graveyards. In the morning we visited Blarney Castle. Some went to kiss the Blarney Stone, but Glenda and enjoyed walking along the river walk then the woodland walk at the castle. We arrived in Cobh and lunched at the White Star Bar, in the building that housed the White Star Lines office. Then Glenda and I walked to the quayside where the Royal Princess brought us just four months past. We went to "the Titanic Experience." We drove to Dooley's Hotel in Waterford, arriving at 5:00 pm. Two other tour coaches had just arrived and the lobby looked like a circus. We will have the walking tour at 6:00 pm, and dinner here in the hotel at 7:30 pm. David told us of one Thomas Francis Meagher (pronounced Mahr) who fought in Waterford's rebellion in the 1840's, designed the Irish tricolor, was arrested and sent to Tasmania, made his way to California, then to New York, became Chief of Police, organized a unit that fought for the Union in the Civil War, became Governor of Montana, and was later presented to Queen Victoria as one of her former prisoners. The Queen was not amused. Before supper guide Jack led us on a walking tour of Waterford. It is a Viking town with one building, Reginald's tower going back to the year 1002. It is the oldest building in continuous use in Britain. There is a replica of a Viking vessel there. A shopping center downtown is built upon the site of a Viking village that was extensively excavated before construction resumed. We also saw the ruins of the Dominican monastery. The Catholic Church here is the oldest in Ireland, built in 1798. The English King and the Pope, who had been enemies since Henry VIII suddenly discovered that the French Revolution posed a common threat, and they became allies against it. The King thereafter allowed Catholic churches to be built. Good conversation at supper with Lance and Jerry about the pervasive intrusion of government into the private lives of citizens. We all agreed that there is no longer any privacy for anyone in a developed nation. Incidentally, as I was writing these travel notes tonight I realized that today marks my fiftieth anniversary as a Christian. I made a sincere profession of faith at Northside Baptist Church on September 5, 1965, the day before I started school at Harding High in Charlotte.Read more

  • British Isles
    Waterford Is Proud of its Viking Heritage
    Street in WaterfordWaterford Church SpireConvent Destroyed by Henry VIIIAsian Influence in WaterfordEarly Viking King and Queen in WaterfordImpromptu PlayersReplica of Viking Ship, Actual Viking Tower

    Arrival in Waterford

    September 5, 2015 in Ireland ⋅ ⛅ 61 °F

    Waterford is very proud of its Viking heritage. We drove to Dooley's Hotel in Waterford, arriving at 5:00 pm. Two other tour coaches had just arrived and the lobby looked like a circus. We will have the walking tour at 6:00 pm, and dinner here in the hotel at 7:30 pm. David told us of one Thomas Francis Meagher (pronounced Mahr) who fought in Waterford's rebellion in the 1840's, designed the Irish tricolor, was arrested and sent to Tasmania, made his way to California, then to New York, became Chief of Police, organized a unit that fought for the Union in the Civil War, became Governor of Montana, and was later presented to Queen Victoria as one of her former prisoners. The Queen was not amused. Before supper guide Jack led us on a walking tour of Waterford. It is a Viking town with one building, Reginald's tower going back to the year 1002. It is the oldest building in continuous use in Britain. There is a replica of a Viking vessel there. A shopping center downtown is built upon the site of a Viking village that was extensively excavated before construction resumed. We also saw the ruins of the Dominican monastery. The Catholic Church here is the oldest in Ireland, built in 1798. The English King and the Pope, who had been enemies since Henry VIII suddenly discovered that the French Revolution posed a common threat, and they became allies against it. The King thereafter allowed Catholic churches to be built. Good conversation at supper with Lance and Jerry about the pervasive intrusion of government into the private lives of citizens. We all agreed that there is no longer any privacy for anyone in a developed nation. Incidentally, as I was writing these travel notes tonight I realized that today marks my fiftieth anniversary as a Christian. I made a sincere profession of faith at Northside Baptist Church on September 5, 1965, the day before I started school at Harding High in Charlotte.Read more

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